THE salary of Cheshire's chief fire officer has jumped by £33,000 to more than £126,000.

Cheshire Fire Service says part of the increase was because Steve McGuirk spent nine months acting as the chief fire officer in South Yorkshire which attracts a higher rate of pay.

But Mr McGuirk earned more than the regular Sheffield-based chief fire officer whose salary is between £115,083 and £120,641.

Even without his South York-shire bonus, Mr McGuirk's salary for 2004-05 had gone up significantly to £112,000 - which is £19,600 more, or a 21% rise, on his previous year's income.

Last year rumours were circulating that Mr McGuirk was receiving double his salary because of his secondary role in South Yorkshire where he stood in during an investigation which saw the regular fire chief suspended.

Using an expletive to rubbish the claim, he said at the time: 'I am getting the difference between my salary in Cheshire and the salary of the chief fire officer in South Yorkshire pro rata for the period.'

Mr McGuirk also said he did not know the sum involved for his stint.

'I was asked to do this by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. It's not a question of payment,' said Mr McGuirk.

Dave Williams, secretary of Cheshire Fire Brigades' Union, said: 'Our members, firefighters, will be disgusted if these rises are true. They will be disgusted because we have faced the prospect of down-sizing and losing fire-fighters' jobs and control room staff. We have been told this is to pay for the pay rise that fire-fighters received which was extremely modest in comparison with the chief fire officer's salary.'

Mr Williams said firefighters had fought for a £30,000-a-year wage but were forced to settle for a 16% rise over three years to bring the salary up to £25,000.

The Chronicle has been able to get hold of the salary figures under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Previously, the chief fire officer and the Fire Authority refused to reveal specific salaries.

The information shows deputies Keith Newnes, head of community risk reduction, and Chris Turnock, head of emergency response, will receive £82,700 this financial year - up £6,350 on 2003-04.

Kathryn Foreman, deputy chief officer, corporate services, who works three days in the office and two from home, will receive £48,565 in the current financial year.

Cheshire Fire Service spokesman Evan Morris said: 'The salary of chief fire officers is based on the National Joint Council for Principal Fire Officers of Local Authorities. Amongst other factors, this takes into account risk profiles of the geographical area they cover and population.

'Deputy chief fire officers' salaries are based on 82.5% of the chief fire officer's salary. The reduced amount paid to one deputy chief fire officer is calculated on 62.5% of the CFO's salary on account of being a nonoperational post.'